Neon Nail Polish and Makeup Ideas For Summer 2011 2011-05-10 06:00:00

DayGlo Makes a Comeback: 10 Ways to Wear It Without Looking '90s

Neon makeup colors are on their way back in, and look like they may be one of this Summer's defining trends. But with shades this bright, there's always a danger of looking like a backup dancer from 1992. Don't worry, though; there are lots of pretty ways to incorporate neons into your look. Check out our 10 picks for bringing DayGlo into the 21st century with style.

Photo courtesy Ann Lawlor

As a Subtle Eye Accent

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If you love subtle, creative details, an eye makeup look like the one from Yigal Azrouel is a great way to bring bright color into your style. It's not immediately noticeable, and it's certainly not over the top, but it creates a lovely point of interest, drawing focus to your eyes.

Beautiful, bright lip stains are the perfect way to incorporate high-saturation hues into your look. This fuchsia shade from the Jenni Kayne show is easy to wear, but orange, coral, and even violet could be pretty as well.

Christian Dior shows always showcase bright makeup, but unless you're Chanel Iman walking down the runway, it's best to choose a single bold color. Bright orange polish is a classic warm-weather choice; it flatters most skin tones, looks great with Summer colors, and isn't so loud that you'll get flack for it at work.

Wearing neon blue around the outer edges of your eyes may seem like a big risk, but as you can see from this look at the Douglas Hannant show, the payoff is brighter, fresher-looking eyes. You don't have to go as big as they did at Hannant, either. Using white shadow on your inner corners, and then blending bright blue from the center of your lids out, can be lovely as well.

Fashionista-chic is just a few brushstrokes away with this look from the Yoana Baraschi show. Instead of piling on a bright eye shadow, creating a sharp, thick cat eye gives the look dimensionality and keeps it far removed from heavy, early 1990s makeup.

The makeup artists at Costello Tagliapietra made their bright orange lipstick look thoroughly modern and chic by pairing it with crème de menthe and smoky light green-gray. By offsetting your neon colors with cool-toned or neutral shades in soft, light colors, you take the look down a few notches.

Are you a little bit indie? Then the bright, unexpected under-hair highlights from Fendi are for you. When you wear your hair down, no one will know that you have such bold streaks. And when you put it up, you'll get a rocker-chic boost.

Don't want to put neon shades on your face, and feel like they're a little too much on your nails as well? For you, the minimalist, the little finger bands from Vena Cava are a cool idea. Another extremely subtle way of adding a neon color pop to your look is to use a neon hair tie or ribbon. It's fashionable and cute without being risky.